Background

All data from Figure 2.1 and 2.2 in Chapter 2 'Public policy and homelessness'. Eng: Shows the rise in homelessness acceptances following The Housing (Homeless Persons) Act (1977); Sco: Shows Scottish Government rough sleeping statistics as priority need was abolished over the decade; Wal: Shows more households having their homelessness prevented and relieved following new duties in The Housing (Wales) Act 2014.

Background

Over time, the policy choices that affect these pressures have made homelessness go up and down

From 1977 onwards, homeless families in England were entitled to housing for the first timeEngland, 1970s/80s Rough sleeping fell to just over 1,000 people in Scotland as barriers to support were scrappedScotland, 2000s A focus on preventing homelessness has led to more people being eligible for support Wales, 2010s

Projected number of households experiencing the worst forms of homelessness in Great Britain over 25 years

Background

If we don't change our approach, thousands more will be left without a place to liveHomelessness is predicted to almost double in the next 25 years2016158,4002021161,8002026186,6002031214,1002036249,3002041314,800

What ending homelessness means

This plan sets out to make sure that everyone has somewhere stable to live, so that nobody is left somewhere insecure, unsafe or at worst on the streets

What ending homelessness means

"My one wish would be a house. I know if I have a room or a flat the rest won’t matter. With a normal place and normal people I know I could then find a job."

Jo

What ending homelessness means

It shows how to make sure everyone has the means to stay in their home, with the right mix of support that works for them

What ending homelessness means

"I was living in private accommodation and I was also on Housing Benefit, but that didn’t cover the shortfall in the rent, so I got into arrears and I was told I was going to be evicted."

Florence

What ending homelessness means

And it shows that the best way to end homelessness is to prevent it

What ending homelessness means

"I got released from prison a week ago. There wasn’t any advice about housing or anything like that. There was no help. They never said anything to me. They just let me out. I’ve been on the street ever since."

Help to keep a home

Shows the monthly gap between Local Housing Allowance rates and the average rent for a two-bed property by area. For example, in Birmingham you would need to find £60.20 by other means to access the rental market; in Inner North London, you would need £126.16. This is a significant barrier to finding and keeping a home.

Help to keep a home

LondonYorkCardiffBirminghamEdinburghThat means making sure welfare truly covers the cost of housingHousing benefit doesn't cover local rents in most of the country – these areas have some of the biggest gaps

Preventing homelessness

If best practice in preventing homelessness was adopted by all local authorities throughout Great Britain, tens of thousands fewer households would become homeless each year. See Chapter 5 'Homelessness projections'

Preventing homelessness

Preventing homelessness

That means they need enough government funding to step in when they need to

Preventing homelessness

"I went to the housing officer and told them my situation, but they said because I was in full-time work they couldn’t help me. I explained that I just needed help with the deposit, but they said there was nothing they could do."

Adam

Preventing homelessness

We also need to make sure no-one leaves a state institution without a safe, stable place to live

What it'll take

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP have estimated that the total costs of supporting homeless people in our five definitions of ending homelessness between 2018 and 2041 is £19,289m and will deliver benefits of £53,908m. These are in Present Value terms at 2017 prices and apply to the specific solutions costed in their model.

What it'll take

We'll need money – but we'll be saving money tooBy 2041 the most targeted policies in the plan would cost £19.3bn… and will deliver benefits of £53.9bn …